iPad will not see a redesign anytime soon. Here's why.

[HiFiGuy528]

16x9 screen?
- NO because apps will have to be changed, again if Apple change the screen size.

No SD & USB slot?
- Apple invested money and time on the Camera Connection kit so no way they will scrap it anytime soon.

No Camera?
- Adding a camera will eat into iPhone and MacBook sales

No multitasking?
- It's designed to do one thing well, very well before it does more. Steve Jobs doesn't want a device that does everything "half ass".

No Flash?
- Flash sucks! It's sucks battery, processor hog & it's unstable.

I think the design will stay for at least 2 years with incremental updates like more RAM & faster processor. That's it!

 

[eawmp1]

I think the design will stay for at least 2 years with increment updates like more RAM & faster processor. That's it!

Agreed. Now if more people would realize why these are not included in version 1 MacRumors could again be more enjoyable.

 

[flopticalcube]

USB/SD slot will be demand driven. I don't think they spent a lot on the development of these very simple items.

Camera takes too much power, particularly when used for IM.

Multi-tasking saps power.

Flash saps power.

10 hours of battery life is achieved by basically doing very little.

 

[wikoogle]

Then the iPad will deservedly continue to get bashed here and everywhere people know what they're talking about.

There was no reason at all they couldn't have used the 1.5:1 ratio that the iPhone and the iPod Touch use instead of going with a 4:3 ratio. 1.5:1 offers a great video viewing experience.

Not including USB/SD just so Apple can make a few extra bucks on accesories for a $829 device is assinine.

Not including a simple camera when even the freaking iPod Micro includes one is assinine. Your theory doesn't even make sense. Shouldn't they be worried that the the iPod Micro is cutting into their MBP and iPhone sales?

And that battery life excuse is BS. When I want to conserve battery I won't use multitasking, or hulu.com or video conferencing continously.

But when I don't care about battery life because I'm close to a power outlet, I would like to have the freedom to do some of the basic things that $180 netbooks can do on a $829 device.

If cutting out functionality to be able to advertize a higher battery life is their marketing strategy, they should've just taken out the speakers, wifi, 3G and graphics card, made it black and white and advertized that it gets a full week of battery life.

 

[dukebound85]

16x9 screen?
- NO because apps will have to be changed, again if Apple change the screen size.

No SD & USB slot?
- Apple invested money and time on the Camera Connection kit so no way they will scrap it anytime soon.

No Camera?
- Adding a camera will eat into iPhone and MacBook sales

No multitasking?
- It's designed to do one thing well, very well before it does more. Steve Jobs doesn't want a device that does everything "half ass".

No Flash?
- Flash sucks! It's sucks battery, processor hog & it's unstable.

I think the design will stay for at least 2 years with incremental updates like more RAM & faster processor. That's it!

Youre right....let's take it a step further to show how silly no multitasking is.....apple should make all computers unable to multitask as well for that same reason

regarding flash, it is reality. i dont care what the reason is for not having it but its pervasive on the internet and should be accounted for

seriously, how people defend apple's crap decisions amuses me

 

[goobot]

multitasking and flash could be just a soft updates not hardware.

 

[skubish]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

Flash may suck but if you want to watch video online you have to have it. As it is the iPad fits a niche where there are no customers.

Consumer device? Nope it doesn't have flash so hulu and all of facebook is out.

Business? Nope. No multitasking.

Apple just created the ultimate toilet reading device.

 

[roland.g]

Have you seen how thin the side is. Not really any room to slide much into it. Maybe an SD slot, but they won't be squeezing a USB port on there, maybe a mini or micro anytime soon. Even though those might fit the side better than standard USB size, you also have to fit them inside onto the motherboard, which by my guess is already a sandwiched puzzle between the screen, ram, hdd, battery, processor, board, and dock controller, speakers, etc.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

16x9 screen?
- NO because apps will have to be changed, again if Apple change the screen size.

No SD & USB slot?
- Apple invested money and time on the Camera Connection kit so no way they will scrap it anytime soon.

No Camera?
- Adding a camera will eat into iPhone and MacBook sales

No multitasking?
- It's designed to do one thing well, very well before it does more. Steve Jobs doesn't want a device that does everything "half ass".

No Flash?
- Flash sucks! It's sucks battery, processor hog & it's unstable.

I think the design will stay for at least 2 years with incremental updates like more RAM & faster processor. That's it!

1) Graphics are scalable + Popular Apps are frequently updated.

2) Apple has "invested" in lots of peripherals that don't last long. The orignal "Universal" dock, the old iPod camera connector, etc. Apple won't add a slot b/c they don't make any money by providing a slot and there isn't enough consumer demand for one.

3) Camera will come b/c people will demand it. Lack of camera has zero to do with cannibalizing iPhone/Touch or MB sales. They are really different purpose devices -- which is something SJ tried to get across during the presentation.

4) Multitasking may come w/ certain apps, not all, to compete with upcoming Android tablets.

The iPad is a new product category, somewhat undefined, and by Apple's pricing it clearly wants to run to the top and stay there, shooting new comers from a top. To do this Apple will have to adapt quickly to consumer demands. They can't just dictate every feature like in the past or consumers will go elsewhere. Over time the iPad will morph into what consumers thing it is just as the iPod has.

 

[Trek2100]

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Flash may suck but if you want to watch video online you have to have it. As it is the iPad fits a niche where there are no customers.

Consumer device? Nope it doesn't have flash so hulu and all of facebook is out.

Business? Nope. No multitasking.

Apple just created the ultimate toilet reading device.

I've been reading the various threads both here and on other websites as well as computer online magazine articles. One thing is for sure, Apple is getting a lot of attention over the iPad. I've read and heard more negative press than positive. Everything from the inference to feminine hygiene products to it's just a glorified etch-a-sketch, and this was on TV. I actually like the iPad however, it's not what I expected. I'm a total Apple fan but there are a few things missing that will prevent me from buying the first generation. If it had the camera, SD/USB and flash (like it or not) I would consider it. All of my family; children, grandchildren and relatives even in their 70s are on facebook. It's a great way to easily keep in touch with family and friends. The iPad would be great if you could have facebook on the go. Texting would be nice because of the larger keyboard. Oh well, at least this is a start.

 

[nutmac]

Multitasking and Flash are software issues so they don't require redesign (I don't see Flash coming to iPad though).

As for the rest, particularly SD/USB and camera, it's interesting how folks are bitching about missing hardware features but quickly gloss on the fact that iPad starts at $499. Low price is one of the strongest features of iPad, a feature that will cause many to buy despite its limitations. These missing components may not cost all that much individually, but they add up. Apple clearly tried to make iPad as cheap as possible, without compromising on components it feels are important (e.g., screen quality).

I think choosing 4x3 screen demonstrates this. 9.7" 1024x768 SIP LCD with LED backlight probably struck best bang for the buck, while providing top-notch image quality in portable computing device category.

 

[albeik]

I have been thinking really hard whom is this device targeted for. The iPad is a perfect device for my mother-in-law for example.

She currently uses an old dell laptop that since have given her more heartache than anything. I've been debating to get her to move to a Mac (Macbook) for awhile, but again, she really does not care about many of the things the OS does or provide. She spends most of the time (and I think this applies to many people in this category):

- Browsing Online (she does not use any site that has flash in it other than YouTube - but there is an App for that)
- A form of Word Application (Pages or MS Word is fine for her)
- Email
- Browsing Pictures/Videos she takes with her digital camera
- Free Games from the App Store

She just needs something that works, without any fuss with Control Panel or System Preferences or Driver updates or viruses, or any sort of system management etc...

The $499 version (half the price of a Macbook) is more than enough. It's very light she can simply lay it down anywhere without taking much space. The battery life is a big plus too.

The only problem I see here is to do with TV + Hulu sites that offer video via Flash. I personally hate and despise and avoid sites that use flash. Click2Flash allows me to play H264 version of youtube videos (better quality and uses less power in Safari/Mac). However, I think that Hulu and many TV sites may end up creating Apps dedicated to their video content and be able to drive ads appropriately rather than from a browser. I can envision a Hulu App playing it's content via H264 instead of flash with a nicer interface - similar to the YouTube App.

In terms of ease-of-use for my mother-in-law (and many people that I know who use iPhones) nothing beats it. They already know how to interact with it and feel comfortable using it. Having a full fledge OS is a bad-idea in this case, unless your into that kind of thing - which I think a Macbook is much better suited.

A camera (front facing) would def. be a big plus (something is needed with an iChat App). If she needs to use it to chat with us or video conference. As someone mentioned before, the iPad Nano have videos now. The iPad is capable to sit in an angle with the case.

... still thinking about it, but wanted to take the opportunity to share my thoughts with everyone ...

 

[Chaos123x]

Well I doubt they will redesign a product that is a total failure in the market place and serves no purpose. Maybe they can just make a larger version of the iPhone instead? Now that would be something.

 

[iphonegeek786]

I can bet that multitasking will come as soon as the iphone gets the 4.0.

 

[Ritte]

Using a 16:9 screen would make it uncomfortable to hold it when tilting it.
The designer talks much about that you can hold it as you want, it fits your needs.

I really think that they are going on the "comfort-level route", it's designed to be comfortable.

 

[3goldens]

there will be an updated one by christmas, count on it!

 

[MisterMe]

there will be an updated one by christmas, count on it!

Apple releases a new iPhone once each year. Why do you believe that it will update the iPad more often?

 

[HiFiGuy528]

once a year.

- iPod
- iPhone

No reason for the iPad to be different.

 

[Pigumon]

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Flash may suck but if you want to watch video online you have to have it. As it is the iPad fits a niche where there are no customers.

Consumer device? Nope it doesn't have flash so hulu and all of facebook is out.

It's funny how whenever anyone mentions Flash and "if you want video you need flash" and they somehow forget the LARGEST video site on the entire internet, YOUTUBE.

There's the Youtube app...

and hmm.. there's the Facebook app. Both running on the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch.

Why do you even bother?

(i agree Flash needs to be included simply because it's so common on the net but still, don't try to back yourself up with false claims)

 

[t22design]

I can bet that multitasking will come as soon as the iphone gets the 4.0.

If multitasking comes in OS 4.0 then I bet 'Original iPhone' and 3G will not be supported.

 

[JoshJosh117]

.

 

[Cinemagic]

16x9 screen?
- NO because apps will have to be changed, again if Apple change the screen size.

No SD & USB slot?
- Apple invested money and time on the Camera Connection kit so no way they will scrap it anytime soon.

No Camera?
- Adding a camera will eat into iPhone and MacBook sales

No multitasking?
- It's designed to do one thing well, very well before it does more. Steve Jobs doesn't want a device that does everything "half ass".

No Flash?
- Flash sucks! It's sucks battery, processor hog & it's unstable.

I think the design will stay for at least 2 years with incremental updates like more RAM & faster processor. That's it!

If Steve wants it, it will happen. He doesn't care what a developer has to do to change apps. So if he wanted a different size screen, it will happen.

SD might come. They have incorporated it on Macbook Pro models. Apple has accepted the standard. Yes they have their $29 adapter and you're right that this may preclude incorporation. USB would be great, but again, I'm afraid you're right - you'll have to use the adapter.

Camera cold easily come. If Jobs sees that he could have more sales by the addition of a camera, it will happen. A front facing camera would not cut into iPhone sales at all. Doubtful that it would cut into Macbook sales. Even with much needed improvements to the iPad, it will never be a computer.

Multi-tasking - If Steve doesn't want a device that does something half-ass, then he would have put a browser other than mobile safari in it. Which brings us to Flash.

Even the webpage that Steve opened during his demonstration had flash content that his iPad could not play. He said that the netbooks didn't do anything well. But a netbook could have opened and viewed everything on the webpage that Steve opened up during his demonstration. The iPad couldn't. So how can this device be better than a netbook for internet surfing? It can't. You can dislike Flash all you want, but it is pervasive on the web and it's simply not going to go away any time soon.

The iPhone had changes every year. So will the iPad.

 

[bozzykid]

No Camera?
- Adding a camera will eat into iPhone and MacBook sales

Maybe Apple shouldn't of added it to the SDK then. Considering the fact they included video conferencing in the API tells us the camera was either removed at the last minute or they have planned to add it in Rev b the whole time.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Very possible that the revision will have oleophobic coating on the screen as an incentive to upgrade.

 

[cmaier]

16x9 screen?
- NO because apps will have to be changed, again if Apple change the screen size.

No SD & USB slot?
- Apple invested money and time on the Camera Connection kit so no way they will scrap it anytime soon.

Not much. They dropped such thing before - the old iPod Photo used to have a very similar camera connection kit. They've also dropped the iPhone bluetooth earpiece. They scrap lots of things.

No Camera?
- Adding a camera will eat into iPhone and MacBook sales

Steve Jobs famously said, re: the iPhone "eating into iPod sales" that if someone was going to eat into their sales, it had best be Apple itself.

No multitasking?
- It's designed to do one thing well, very well before it does more. Steve Jobs doesn't want a device that does everything "half ass".

Whatever. This is a software issue, and probably will come in 4.0.